Northampton Highlights

Academy of Music Theatre
The Academy of Music Theatre is an historic building - the sixth oldest municipally owned theatre in the nation and the only one that has shown films in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

Bike Trails
The Bike Trails website provides some information about the Norwottuck Bike Trail that leads from Northampton, over the Connecticut River to Hadley and Amherst. There is also a peaceful shaded bike path from the end of State Street in downtown Northampton to the entrance of Look Park in Florence. It is about 3 miles in length and a favorite of bicyclists, roller blades participants and joggers, as well as school children headed to and from JFK Middle School and Jackson Street Elementary School.

Childs Park
The Childs Park is an urban oasis and is located between Elm Street and Prospect Street and is designated as a place of serenity and quiet reflection. This is a wonderful spot to retreat from the world, enjoy beautiful gardens and bask in the afternoon sun.

Famous Folks
In downtown Northampton, outside of the Court House, you can see the bust of our most well-known former Mayor, Calvin Coolidge. You can also visit the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library Collection at Forbes Library just up the street. In downtown Florence, be sure to visit the Sojourner Truth Memorial Statue and public garden, just down the block from the Lilly Library, and near to the location of the first home Sojourner Truth owned when she lived in Florence for nine years.

Hot Air Balloon Ride
Schedule a breathtaking airplane tour of the scenic Pioneer Valley or a romantic Hot Air Balloon ride at the Northampton Airport.

Look Memorial Park
The Look Memorial Park is a great place for a walk in the woods, a favorite picnic spot, an all-ages recreation treasure. Look Park offers a miniature golf course, bumper boats, playgrounds, old fashioned paddle boats and a seasonal water park. There are dozens of barbecue pits and several large shelters that can be reserved for your celebrations. The Pines Theatre hosts morning children's programs in the summer and live performances under the stars. For more information on this gem in the heart of Florence, click on the link above.

Museums Historic Northampton hosts a museum of local history in historic homesteads on Bridge Street in downtown Northampton.
On the other end of Main Street, plan to visit the Smith College Museum of Art. World class collections and rotating exhibits make this a must-see every time you come to town.

Music
There are a number of live music and performance venues in and around Northampton. For the full scoop on what's going on when you get here, pick up a copy of the Valley Advocate, a free local arts and entertainment paper, or the Daily Hampshire Gazette.

Public Parks and Recreation
The Northampton Recreation Department maintains the City's playing fields and recreational facilities. A new Skateboard Park is now open at Veterans' Field, the result of a partnership with the community group, S.P.I. N., which raised funds and helped advocate for the federal matching funds to support the project. Check out the Recreation Department Website above for information on recreation programs that are coming up.

Shopping
Dozens of boutiques and one-of-a-kind shops line Northampton's Main Street, as well as numerous restaurants with every type of menu you can imagine! The Downtown businesses also present several annual events, including the Restaurant Week, Monthly Arts Night Out, Summer Sidewalk Sales, and popular Bag Day in November. For more information, check out the Northampton Chamber of Commerce.

Three County Fairgrounds
Visit the Three County Fairgrounds during its longest running agricultural fair each Labor Day Weekend. There are 4-H livestock shows, a carnival midway and lots of other events. Check out the Fairgrounds website for their calendar of events.

Walk the Dogs
There are lots of great dog walks in Western Massachusetts. When in Northampton, check out the path around Paradise Pond on the Campus of Smith College, or the popular pull-off on Burts Pit Road near the community gardens with walking trails through farmland that wind around the Mill River. Please remember that Northampton does have a leash law and you are required to pick up after your pet.